XCritic Interviews

Melissa Monet interview

Whenever I hear the name Melissa Monet, I think of her as one of the adult industry's go-to-ladies. She is very comfortable in shifting from one genre to another without any hesitancy or lack of confidence. She is quite formidable in both Boy/Girl and Girl/Girl scenes. Furthermore, she happens to be one of the most talented directors and screenwriters in the business. Currently, her screenwriting skills can be seen in the Wicked Pictures hit movie Uptown Girl. It's on account of these facts that the studio Metro has selected her to direct one of their first films during their transition period. If Metro is going to prosper, it will take the likes of Melissa Monet to propel it's image and reputation. She is a stand-up woman who knows how to get the job done right! I would not hesitate to put her in my corner anytime.

Hi Melissa, congratulations on being selected to direct one of Metro's films during their current transition period. Around the industry, you have been recognized as a fine director. What is your directing style? Is your directing philosophy different between Boy-Girl, Girl-Girl, and in this case, solo ones?

Thank you, I'm very excited to be back in the director's chair and even more excited to be directing for a company I have enjoyed working for in the past. I don't know if I necessarily have a directing style. I know what I like and visually I try to achieve it by mixing styles. With the solo series I'm directing this week I have the advantage of showing different looks through each vignette. My cast is also very diverse and I prefer that to just shooting one type of girl and lighting it all the same or making it super simple...that's too easy. As for my philosophy within the B/G or G/G genres, I guess that would depend on the type of scene it is; being romantic, or crazy, or soft, or rough. The gender doesn't matter to me as much as the "feel" I'm trying to achieve from the scene.

How long have you been in the industry, what have been your most pleasurable moments so far? What has been your least pleasurable?

I'm going on my 16th year in the industry and I love it. I am happiest when I'm creating, but I have been blessed to have made great friends here, so to try and narrow down the pleasurable moments would be tough. My least pleasurable moments is when we lose someone so close to our industry family, especially those that have been taken from us way too young.

How did you get into the adult industry?

Came in the biz with a major loser...he is the epitome of how good could come from bad.

What does it mean to you that the industry's movers and shakers still have somuch confidence and reverence in your acting and directing skills and professionalism?

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I'm glad that I have merits to flaunt, but I strive to do my best and damn lucky that anyone notices. It really sucks when you do something and no one acknowledges that, if I was into fading into the background I wouldn't be here.

You have remarkable sexual chemistry with both men and women. This fact is quite evident in movies such as It's a Mommy Thing 4, Seasoned Players 7, and Lesbian Seductions 23. What traits of a woman do you admire most? What makes a woman sexy? What traits of a man do you admire most? What makes a man sexy?

Thank you again for noticing...lol. I love what makes a woman a woman; her skin, her scent, watching her move, the way she succumbs to your touch. To me, sexy is a much more tangible thing, you either have it or you don't. I don't find as many people sexy or sensual as I might find them attractive or cool to hang around with. What makes a woman sexy to me is the way she carries herself. I love to read body language, so I will stare at a woman who is standing by herself; a really sexy woman will constantly be touching herself in the most subtle manner...they really can't help themselves. For men it's a lot different. I love nerdy guys but I also need them to be manly men. Seriously, I cannot resist a man that I can remodel a house with but lists old Warren comic books and Gerry Anderson shows as his favs. The things I find sexy in a man is also how he carries himself; strong but slightly vulnerable, not afraid to take charge in bed but also willing to explore other avenues. I find men who try to seduce women very unsexy...they make me giggle and not in a good way. A sexy man doesn't have to try, let alone as hard as the unsexy ones often do.

What was the biggest surprise for you about the adult industry when you started? How has the industry changed over the years?

I was shocked at how little the performers knew about their own bodies. I came in at 30 and had already been in the sex business for 11 years, but even in my younger years I knew what I liked and what I didn't like, what turned me on and how to use the simplest of hygienic products. For Pete's sake, back then I showed more girls how to use hygiene products than I ever care to in two lifetimes. Change is relative. It's wonderful that we have AIM and a better safe guard as well as better tests to keep us safe. I'm also happy that our string of porn star deaths have seemed to wane since I first entered the biz. I am not thrilled at how certain things have not changed at all though, like the fact that we don't have a slush fund for our stricken brethren. Several of our fellow performers are fighting cancer and it's great that we do these fundraisers, but there should be an ongoing fund to help with their expenses. I'm not happy that we are continuously bombarded by outsiders trying to protect us from ourselves especially when we have been so successful at policing our own industry. This actually seems to be getting worse, so I am glad that we still have all those wonderful people fighting for our rights. I also miss really interesting box covers.

Are there any industry people (actors, actresses, directors, etc.) who you have not had the opportunity to work with yet and want to very badly and why? What would be your dream scene?

There are a few actors and actresses I would love to work with. I actually did a list the other night for some of the girls I wouldn't mind having some fun with, but I'm fairly easy, I just want to work with someone who likes sex...everyone else, please go through the line. There are a lot of director's I haven't had the pleasure to work with, both new and established. I would have loved to have had the opportunity to work with John Leslie as both a performer and as a director...but he doesn't shoot us older gals and I'm pretty sure I can't lure him back in front of the camera. My dream scene would be a Tori Wells, Heather Hunter and Marilyn Chambers sandwich, but alas, that will never happen anywhere but in my head.

How were you as a kid growing up?

I was really sick throughout most of my childhood so I watched a lot of TV and read a lot of books but when I wasn't sick I was pretty active. I did Karate most of my life and played the trumpet since the age of 7. I guess I would be described as a sci-fi nerd who was obsessed with sex...or is that redundant?

What are your hobbies and interests?

I love to read, writing, cooking, gardening, tinkering and inventing, sewing, designing, remodeling homes, making jewelry, going to the gym and I rescue dogs with Julia Ann.

What is your favorite thing about being an adult performer?

You mean besides being able to fuck anyone you want without having to go through a date first and get paid for it? Or the dozens of other perks? I think the best thing about being a porn chick is the great friendships I've been able to forge here...I really have met some of the most wonderful people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. We are such a dichotomy of the outside world brought together in a tight nit family, it's really a sight to behold.

Are there any web sites or future projects that you would like to promote? What are you currently working on film wise?

I'm so excited by all the wonderful things I have on my plate right now. I write scripts for several directors and that's forever ongoing. I have some mainstream projects I'm involved with as well. My new gig for Metro is amazing, beginning with this solo endeavor and hopefully leading to many, many more directing projects. I feel very blessed at the moment.I don't have a website, but I have my little ol' Myspace page http://www.myspace.com/mad2112